When a caller asks, “Can you hear me?” it might sound harmless, but even answering “yes” could make you a target for a scam. In rare cases, scammers might record your voice to pretend to be you and make fake purchases.
More often, they are just checking if your phone number is active so they can use it or sell it for other scams. To stay safe, avoid saying “yes” to unknown callers—or better yet, let those calls go to voicemail.
How the robocall scam works
According to the FTC and Better Business Bureau (BBB), these scam calls often follow a similar pattern. When you answer, you might hear fumbling noises, and someone might say, “I’m having trouble with my headset.” Then, they ask a yes/no question like, “Can you hear me?”
Even though it sounds like a real person, it’s often a robocall with a pre-recorded message. If you say “yes,” it tells the scammer that your number is active and that you’re likely to answer calls. This also helps them sell your number to other telemarketers for more money.
This type of scam is the most common, but the FTC and BBB warn that scammers might also record your “yes” answer. They could use it later to make unauthorized purchases by phone, combined with other stolen information from data breaches or identity theft.
While this type of scam is rare, it’s safest to avoid talking to unknown callers. Scammers are even starting to use voice-mimicking technology as part of their tricks.
How to avoid being harassed by robocalls
If you don’t recognize the number, let it go to voicemail. Even if your phone provider doesn’t flag it as a scam, these calls often show up with no caller ID or come from numbers that look like yours.
For example, if your number is (555)-866-7001, you might get calls from other (555)-866 numbers. Scammers use local-looking numbers to make the call seem less suspicious, so you’re more likely to answer.
Some robocalls, like those from charities, political candidates, or your doctor, are legal. However, robocalls that sound like marketing might be illegal, especially if you’ve never interacted with the caller before. To avoid more scam calls, it’s best to ignore them or hang up right away. Don’t answer or press any numbers on your phone.
Another good idea is to block calls from unknown numbers. Lifehacker has a helpful guide for this (they even cover a contacts-only blocking method). If you get a scam robocall—and most people do—you should report it to the FTC and the BBB Scam Tracker.